Process of calendering or ironing of fabrics



Patented ct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE CHARLES VTILFRED EALMER, F SPOKE-ON, HEAR DERBY, E1\TGLAND, ASSIGNOR 'IO CELANESE. CORPORATION OF AMERTCA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PROCESS OF GALENDERING OR IRONING OF FABRICS No Drawing.

This invention relates to a method of iron ing or calendering fabrics comprising cellulose derivatives.

lit has been found that in ironing or calendering fabrics made in part or in whole of thermoplastic cellulose compounds or organic derivatives of cellulose, such as organic esters, e. g. cellulose forinate, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose propionate, or cellulose ethers, e. g. methyl cellulose or ethyl cellulose, an increase in lustre or sheen may be caused under certain conditions. For instance, when such fabrics are ironed while they are damp by calendering or ironing 1 means which are at too high a temperature,

such increase of lustre may result, especially where the fabric has been delustred or where the fabric has a subdued lustre.

An object of my invention is to provide a 1, method of smoothing, ironing or calendering the above mentioned fabric, wherein no increase of lustre or sheen is caused. Other objects of my invention will appear from the following detailed description.

3-; According to my invention, the fabric to be treated is subjected to the action of a hot iron or calender, i. e. an iron or calender at a temperature of say above about 100 C. only when it is dry. The fabric is never perge mitted to come in contact with such hot iron or calender while it is damp or wet. This principle may be used in several ways, two instances of which are here given.

In one mode of carrying out my invention, a wet fabric to be smoothed is first dried in the air. The air dried fabric is then subjected to the action of a hot iron to remove the creases. A really hot iron should be used in order to assure the removal of such creases.

1-; However, care should be taken to avoid temperatures so high as to damage the fabric by the partial fusion Or melting of the material of which the fabric is composed. Any temperature above about 100 C. but below the upper limit of temperature of incipient fusion of the material is suitable, although the higher temperatures within this range are preferable since the smoothing or ironing action is obtained more eii'ectively at higher temperatures.

Serial No. 210,731.

Another mode of carrying out my invention comprises the treatment of the wet fabric to remove superfluous moisture by physical means, such as centrifuging or preferably by absorption by wrapping in towels or other absorbing material. The partial drying of the material by air-drying or the use of other evaporative effects may be resorted to if de sired. However, Whatever method may be used, the fabric should be left in at least a somewhat damp condition for the following treatment. The damp fabric is then smoothed over with acalender or iron which is merely warm, this smoothing process being continued until the fabric has become dry. The temperature of the calender or iron at this stage should be below 100 C. and preferably at such temperature that the hand can be placed on the face thereof without discomfort. After the fabric is smoothed and dried in this manner, the ironing or calendering may be finished by an iron or calender of higher temperatures such as is used in ironing real or natural silk. The temperature used in the second stage of this method of procedure need not be so high as in the first mode of procedure described above, and therefore, the danger of use by an inexperienced operative of too high a temperature is avoided, thus obviating any danger of fusion of the material of which the fabric is composed.

This invention is applicable to the treatment of all fabrics comprising thermoplastic cellulose compounds or organic derivatives of cellulose such as organic esters or organic others. Examples of such organic esters are cellulose formate, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate and cellulose propionate. Examples of organic ethers are methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose. The fabric may be composed entirely of any one or more of the above mentioned cellulose compounds or derivatives. The fabric to be treated may also be a mixed or union fabric containing one of the above cellulose derivatives as a constituent, such as mixed cellulose acetate and cotton, cellulose acetate and silk, cellulose acetate and wool, or cellulose acetate and other fibres.

This invention may be applied to the treatment of any fabric constituted as above set forth in order to avoid the increase of its lustre. However, I have found it most useful in avoiding the increase of lustre in the delustred fabric. It is particularly applicable in the ironing or calendering of fabrics which have adesign printed thereon by delustring, such as in Similis" p'irints: In such fabrics, pattern effects similar to that found in damask, are obtained either by delustring. the figures or by delustring the back-ground, or else the whole fabric may be delustred and either the design or the background are relustred. Since the effect of such fabrics is dependent upon differences oflustre of its surface, it is of particular importance to avoid relustring of" the delustred portions By treating such fabrics in'theinanner herein-set forth, tl e pattern will be preserved.

The calendar or iron used in theprocess may be of any desired form, forinstanc'e its surfaceunay befiat or it may have the form of arroll. Foroperationson a large scale, steam-heated calenders or irons are refer:

' ably used.

While I have set forth in detail modes carrying out my inventiom it is' to be understood that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of 1nyinvention'.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 Method-of pressing without appreciably affecting the luster of fab-ric'comprising organic derivatives of cellulose, which comprises subjecting said fabric while in a damp condition to the action of a surface warmedto a temperature below about 100 C. until said fabric is substantially dry, and: then completing the pressingby the application of a dry surface maintained abovefabout'100 C;

2. Method of pressing without appreciably affecting theluster of fabric comprising cellulose acetate, which comprises subjecting said fabric while'in' a-damp condition to the action of a surface warmed to a temperature below about 100 C. until said fabricis substantially dry, and then completing the pressing by the appli cation'of a drysurface maintained above about 100 C.

Method of pressing: and preserving the luster of fabric: comprising. organic derivatives of cellulose at least part ofthe surface of which fabric has a reduced lustre, compriseing subjecting said fabric while'in' a substan'- tially dry condition to the action of a dry hot surface.

f: Method of pressing and preserving the luster of fabric comprising cellulo'seacetate at least part of the service'of which fabric hasa reduced lustre, comprising: subjecting said fabric i'vhile ina substantially dry condition to the action of adry hot surfa'ce.

5: Method of pressing and preserving the luster of fabric" coin-prising. organic -deriva= tives of cellulose at least part of the surface of which fabric has been delustred, comprising subjecting said fabric while in a substantially dry condition to the action of a hot dry surface above 100 C.

Method of pressing and preserving the lustre of fabric comprising cellulose acetate at least part of the surface of which fabric hasbeen delustred, comprising subjecting said fabric while in a substantially dry condition to the action of a dry hot surface above 100 C.

7. Method of pres-sing fabric comprising organic derivatives of cellulose having pattern effects produced by having parts of the surface of the fabric delustred and other parts of the surface of the fabric'not delustred, while preserving the patterne'lfects, comprising subjecting said fabric while in a substantially dry condition to the action of a dry hot surface.

'8: Method of pressing fabric comprising cellulose acetate having pattern effects produoed by having parts of the surface of the fabric delustred and other parts of the surface of the fabric not delustred, while pre serving the pattern effects, comprising subjecting said fabric while in a substantially cflry condition to the action of a dry hot surace.

9. Method of pressing fabric comprising organic derivatives of cellulose having pattern effects produced by having parts of the surface of the fabric delustred and other parts of the surface of the fabric not delustred, whilepreservingthe pattern effects, comprising subjectingsaid fabric while in a substantially dry condition to the action of a dry hot surface above 100 C. but below the fusion pointof'said organic'derivatives of cellulose.

10. Method of pressing fabric comprising cellulose acetate having pattern e'lfects produced by having parts of the surface of the fabric delustred and other parts of the surface of th'efabric not delustred, whilepreserving the patterneffects, comprising subjecting said fabric \vhile'in asubstantially dry condition to the action of a dry hot surface above 100 G. but below the fusion point of such cellulose acetate.

11. Method of pressing fabric comprising cellulose acetate havingpattern effects pro duced by having parts of the surface of the fabric delustred and other parts of the surface ofthe fabric not delustred, while preserving. the pattcrn effects, comprising subjectingsaid fabric while in a damp condition to the action of a'surface warmed'to a tempera ture below about-100 C. until said fabric is substantially dry, and then completing the ironingor calender'ing by pressing with a'dry surface 1 maintained above about 100 C. but below the fusion point of such cellulose acetate.

In-testi'mony whereof, he hashereunto sub scribedhis name.

CHARLES WILFRED PALMER: 

